So long, Howard -- Hunt leaving Southern Wayne CC on Wednesday

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 20, 2014 9:44 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Sit back and get ready to read a tale.

It will tickle your funny bone, but give you an idea about a laidback individual who took a blue-collar golf club and made it his own for 12 1/2 years.

Jeremy Joyner, then in his early 20s, attended a U.S. Open qualifier with Howard Hunt at River Landing in Wallace. Joyner volunteered to carry Hunt's bag and got a little hungry after they completed the back nine.

So Joyner headed toward the clubhouse. He took a little longer than expected and when he headed toward the 10th green, Hunt was nowhere to be found.

"After about 15 minutes, I saw him carrying the bag down towards the 10th green," Joyner said. "I finally caught up with him on 11."

The adventure had just begun.

Hunt completed the round and weary from the grueling day, he asked Joyner to drive him back to Mount Olive. Warned that Hunt's Honda Accord had a manual transmission, Joyner assured his mentor he could get him home safely.

Joyner turned the key in the ignition, put the car in gear and they hucked and bucked their way through the parking lot toward the interstate. As they approached the Mount Olive exit, Joyner slowed down.

The 4-cylinder engine grinded out 6,000 rpm.

"I either put the car in the wrong gear or (I don't know if) the vehicle was even in gear at all, and we start hucking and a bucking, and me and him are both trying to get the car back into gear," Joyner said.

In one day, Joyner had left Hunt to carry his bag and nearly left his transmission somewhere on Interstate 40.

*

That's just one of many stories you're likely to hear when you sit down with Hunt inside the Southern Wayne Country Club golf pro shop.

Golfers stop in to grab a cold drink, a snack, pay up and head back out the door. Or, they'll either grab a hot dog or pull a cold sandwich from the refrigerator, warm it up and sit down to tell Hunt about their round.

They laugh and carry on like good friends do.

But they'll soon miss that relationship they've developed with Hunt over the years. He's officially leaving SWCC on Wednesday and taking over as golf course manager at Tarpon Springs Golf Club in Tarpon Springs, Fla.

"It was very difficult to make the decision," Hunt said. "The choice to leave was more professional than it was a personal issue. I'm getting to the age that I've got to think about down the road, maybe 20 years from now if I'm going to retire, which I hope I can.

"The opportunity to go down there and work a city golf course, and the better benefits they provide is something that I just felt like I couldn't pass up."

Hunt's successor has not been named.

The club's board members met week and mentioned two possible candidates, but have not scheduled a formal interview. Hunt knows each of them and said that both of them were qualified and would do a good job.

"That was my two cents worth," Hunt said.

*

When Hunt arrived at Southern Wayne, the course wasn't in prime condition and the club had incurred considerable debt.

He quickly put his turf management degree to work and spearheaded the move to change from 328 Bermuda grass to hybrid Bermudas in 2005. The N.C. State alum got his spraying license renewed so he could help maintain the greens and fairways when the club went through a transition of course superintendents.

Hunt organized social activities, including a weekly "Cluck and Putt" on Thursdays where golfers could play nine holes, and then dine on barbecue chicken. The move helped generate interest and draw some new players to the course.

Plus, the debt slowly decreased.

"I do feel like I'm leaving it in a better place," said Hunt, who also enticed good friend Kenny Moore to move the Andy's Invitational to SWCC. The yearly event brings in more than 200 golfers.

But like any golf pro, Hunt said the course -- now a half century old -- could use a facelift and a driving range. There is an area to hit balls, but golfers can only use irons since it isn't long enough to accommodate drivers.

He suggested turning No. 7, a par-5 hole with a dogleg left, into a par-3 island comparable to TPC Sawgrass. Hunt also said a redesign would create space for a suitable driving range.

"We've got a plan in place and we had discussed it," Hunt said. "They would have to redesign three holes. I don't think it's going to be that costly and people would like it. It's something fresh.

"If you stay the same too long, you get stale. When you get stale, people are liable to wander somewhere else. It you make it really nice, now everybody wants to go play it."

And see Hunt.

*

One recent morning, a quartet of golfers made the trek from New Bern to say "bye" to Hunt. They each shook his hand, complimented him on the job he's done and said they were going to miss him.

Hunt choked up.

"It's always about the people," Hunt said. "That's why I do it. I just enjoy being in the golf shop, hanging out with whoever and talk ... live life in general. Guys like to come here to play golf, hang out, drink a few cold beers.

"They come as they are and you take them as they come."

The door beeped.

Ellis Holland stepped into the cool air and wiped his brow as Hunt asked the semi-retired businessman about his round. Holland replied that he shot a 73, and quickly added it could have been lower except for a couple of meddlesome bogeys.

Holland revealed that his playing partner bailed him out during the 18-hole round and cashed in on some friendly wagers.

"You made out all right then," Hunt said.

Well-wishers continued to drop in throughout the day. The phone constantly rang with golfers who either wanted to set up a tee time or ask Hunt if he really was leaving for south Florida.

The news still hasn't sunk in.

"They've all said how sad they were to see me leave, but they understood and hoped that the opportunity is going to be a good one," Hunt said. "That's pretty neat."

*

Howard flashes back to last Sunday.

Joyner stands over a clump of clover on No. 18 and looks toward the hole. Hunt watches as his former student hits a safe approach that lays up short of the green.

Two shots later, Joyner punches his fist in the air as the putt drops in the cup and he claims the Wayne County Men's Amateur Open Division title on his home course.

"Jeremy was a senior when I first got here. Shoot, I don't think he'd mind saying this, but he couldn't break an egg ... couldn't hardly get the ball off the ground," Hunt said. "What, 13 years later, he shoots a 66 on Sunday to win the Amateur. That's pretty cool. That choked me up a little bit."

It's another story that Hunt won't soon forget and is sure to share for years to come, whether it tickles your funny bone or not.